Electric system for pipe-organ-coupler control



July 16, 1929. cs. G. GARMAN 1,721,110

ELECTRIC SYSTEM FOR PIPE ORGAN COUPLER CONTROL Filed June 9, 1926 5! if! d: 14 15' I6 \7' 4 E r I r r I v e 7 a! a! FIGURE 1.

FI'GURE3.

gwumroz WXZ Patented July 16, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

GEORGE G. GARMAN, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

Application filed June 9, 1926. Serial No, 114,779.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in controls for electric and elect-ro-pneumatic actions of pipe organs.

It is recognized that the usual couplers for pipe organs connect the tone qualities of one keyboard with the tone qualities of another, so that allof the voices or parts of polyphonic music being played upon a manual are connected and merged with corresponding voices of another keyboard with out regard to their relative importance in the musical effect to be produced.

The object of this invention is to provide a coupler which will function on anygiven voice or voices of polyphonic music, thus eliminatingthe' necessity for the player attempting to play on two manuals of the instrument with the fingers of one hand. A further object is to provide a coupler which will automaticallyconnect any voice or voices on any keyboard with any other I keyboard, thus providing a means of increas ing the volume or intensity of tone or of contrasting the tone quality of any predetermined voice or parts of the music relativeto the other parts at the discretion of the performer.

Another object vide a means of connecting or coupling any device outside of the organ with the instrument, as for example. chimes in, a tower, so that they willbe energized or made to functionwith any predetermined voice or voices of the music, simultaneously with the play ing of .the ,organ'and without disturbing the instrument itself. P.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel combination of parts and in the detailsof construction hereinafter set forth in the specification and appended claims, certain embodimentsof my invention. being illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatical illustration of my electrical coupling device forselec-- tively coupling one voice;

Figure 2, is an illustration of a similar devicefor coupling selectively either of two or both voices;

- Figure 3 is an illustration of a similar device for coupling selectively three voices,

and any one or two of said three voices.

Referringmore particularlyto the drawings, Figure 1 shows an electricallyv excited coupler which will function for only the highest (right hand side) key which is destant.

of this invention is to propressed on the instrument at any given in- (The terms highest and lowest used throughout this specification are conventional musical terms indicating relative position to right and left hand side of the keyboard or manual.) In all three figures of the drawings corresponding parts bear the same numbers.

Conductors 4 and 5 are the electrical lead wires already within the instrument as a key circuit. Switch 1 is the control switch used to energize the device when it is desired to put it into operation, and on the console of the instrument takes the form of a tablet, draw-knob, button or other device to correspond with the other fea-,;

tures of the console; 6, 7, 8, and 9 represent a plurality of key contacts (the standard keyboard having sixty-one of them) for any manual. 10, 11,12 and 13 are electric coils, the inductance of which represents thefunction or work which is ordinarily and usually performed by theclosing of the 'key contacts 6, 7, 8, and 79.. Coils 10, 11, 12 and 13 together with conductors 4 and 5 form part of the instrument with which the invention operates. 14,15, 16 and 17 are relays whose armatures 14, 15, 165 and 17 (when control switch 1 and any or all of the plurality of key cont-acts 6, 7, .8, and 9 are closed) complete the circuit from'the power lead 4, through the induction coils 18, 19, 20 and 21 which represent the function or work to be performed by the coupler beingdescribed.

To explain the operation of Figure 1; if

switch 1 is open as shown in the drawing,

and. all four keys 6, 7, Sand-9 are closed, then current willfiow through the line 31 and energize all the relays 10, 11, 12 and 13, and the coupler device is inoperative. If,

addition through switch 1 and relays'l t, 15,

16 and 17, thereby. causing their movable armatures 14', 15', 16 and 1.7" to drop. This breaks the continuity of the electric conduchowever, switch 1 is closed, and key contacts 7 tion line connecting the armatures at four points, so that, while a contactat points 18,

c 19, 20 and 21 is also made by eachrelay respectively the induction coils 18,:l9and 20 can not be energized as the current will flow through switch 1, line 32, thearmature of relay l7, armature 17 throughthe contact 21 to the induction coil 21, and back to lead 5. It is shown that only that closed key 9 which is located furthest to the right on the drawing will 1 permit energizing its corresponding induction coil, these being the ones whose inductance represent the functionor the method of coupling that key on the inpractice.

strument which is second from the right of those depressed at any given instant. Relays 22,23, 24, and are shown for convenience in drawing as having two armatures each, 24, 38, 25 and 37 etc; respectively. Relays having but one armature may be used in actual Switch 2 is used to energize the invention when it is desired to put into operation a device for coupling the next to highest voice. Switch 2 takes the form on the console which will correspond to the other tablets, drawknobs, etc. on the instrument. Switch closes with either or both of switches 1 and 2 to energize the relays 22, 23, 24 and 25.

If in Figure 2 control switches 2 and 30 are closed together with key contacts 6, 7, 8 and 9, then (as in Figure 1) relays 22, 2'3, 24 and 25 will-be energized by current flowing through switch 30. Current will also flow from lead line 4 through line 31, through induction coils 10. 11, 12 and13, through keys 6,7, Sand 9 back to lead line 5. At the same time each relay 22, 23, 24 and 25 will by means of their armatures break two contacts and make two other contacts. Current will then fiow from lead line 4 through switch 2, line 33, to the armature of relay 25 (armature 37,

shown as the upper armature on the drawing). Here, on account of the operative positions of both relays, the current will be transferred from line 33 connecting arma tures opposite to switch 2 and will pass over to line 32 by means of contact 35. As con- "tact 25 is broken it must proceed from this pointin only one direction to armature 24, to contact 20 and on through induction coil 20 which is one ofthe coils of the coupler.

7 Switch 1 in Figure 2 puts into potential operation the same device as shown in Figure 1; Figure 2, therefore, shows the method of using the device either to couple the highest ornext to highest keys which are depressed by closing control switches '1 or 2 as desired. As in Figure 1, Figure 2 may also be reversed symmetrically to couple either the lowest or next to lowest keys which are depressed. Hence in four part music by the use, of the apparatus described in Figure 2 it is possible to couple any or all of the voices to any other manual, sets of pipes or bells, etc., within or outside of the instrument by simply closing a method of coupling the third key from the highest which is closed. This device is put into operative condition by closing switch 3 in the same manner in which control switches land 2 in Figures 1 and 2 are closed-switch 30 closing with either of switches 1, 2, orv 3.

Relays 26, 27 28, and 29 are shown as having three armatures. The use of relays with one armature is permitted as part of the invention. Closingswitch 3 energizes line 34 opposite it through the relay armatures when the relay armatures are in the inoperative position. lVhen one or more key contacts (6, 7, 8, 9 are then closed, the corresponding relay of the highest closed one such as 9 will cause its armature 40 to break, the line 34 and transfer the electrical potential to the line 33 opposite to and connected to switch 2. Further functioning of the apparatus shown in Figure 3 is the same as that shown in Figure 2. The coupler circuit is, therefore, from lead 4 to switch 3, through line 34, armature 40, contact 44, line 33, armature38, contact 36, line 32, relay 27, contact 19, induction coil 19 which it was desired to energize in accordance with the invention, back to lead line 5.

As a further. explanation assumethat in Figure 3 switches 3 and 30 are closed, and key contacts 6, 7, and 8 are closed. Then current will pass from lead4, through switch 30, through relay coils 26, 27 and 28 back to lead line 5. Simultaneously current will pass through the coupler circuit from line 4, through switch 3, line 34, armature 40, along line 34 to armature 41, through contact 45, along line 33 toarmature 39, contact 43, line 32 to armature 26 to induction'coil 18 which it was desired to energize in accordance with the invention, thence back to lead line 5. Armature 42 will not be energized on account of the break made in line 34 by armature41.

Contact 46 will be dead due to the break in line 33 caused .by armature 39, and because armature 42. is not energized.

The apparatus in Figure 3 may also be reversed with respect to right and left sides so that coupling may be obtained for the lowest, second to lowest, third to lowest, third to highest,second to highest, or highest part orinvention, I

(the operations of a pipe organ, a plurality of to couple selectively any one or more vo1cesor parts of polyphonic music being played on one manual to any other manual or musical devices located either within or outside of the instrument.

2. In an electrical system for'controlling the operation of a pipe organ, means for selectively coupling one or more voices or parts of polyphonic music being played on one manual to any other manual or musical devices located within or outside of the instrument.

3. In an electrical system for controlling the operation of a pipe organ, means for selectively coupling one or more voices of polyphonic music being played on one manual to another manual or musical devices located within or outside of said organ, said means comprising a main line conducting current to a plurality of induction coils in parallel, a switch operated line, a plurality of relays arranged in parallel in connection with said switch, a plurality of armatures in said switch line adaptedto be actuated by said relays for selectively energizing one or more of said induction coupler coils into operative condition in circuit with said switch upon the closing of the key contact in the same local circuit with the selected coupler.

4. In an electrically controlled'pipe organ a means for accentuating by increase in volume or change of tone quality selectively any one or more parts of polyphonic music being played upon a manual, said means consisting of a main line conducting current to a plurality of induction coils in parallel, a switch operated line, a pluralityof relays arranged in parallel in connection with said switch, a plurality of armatures in said switch line adapted tobe actuated by said relays for selectively energizing the controlling features of other manuals or musical devices located either inside or outside of the instrument, a plurality of mechanical stops arranged upon the console of the instrument and adapted to control the action of said accentuation means.

5. In an electrical system for controlling the operation of a pipe organ, means for selectively coupling one or more parts of a chord played on one manual to any other manual, said uncoupled parts, while played simultaneously with said coupled parts, being sounded only on the manual on which they are played.

6. In an electrical system for controlling the operation ofa pipe organ, means for selectively coupling one or more parts, to the exclusion of the remaining parts, of a chord played on any manual to any other manual, said uncoupled parts being sounded only on the manual on which they are actually played.

In testimony whereof I afiix my slgnature.

GEORGE G. GARMAN. 

